ABB wins $40m order to power Najran University

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a second order from Saudi Arabia’s Najran University, worth $40 million, to build a substation to ensure reliable power supplies for the university’s new complex. The order was booked in the first quarter.

ABB will be responsible for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a 380 kV (kilovolt) substation capable of distributing power at 132 kV and 13.8 kV. Key products to be supplied include the gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), transformers, medium-voltage switchgear and cables.

“This substation will provide the power required for Najran University’s long-term development,” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. ”ABB’s compact substation technology will be deployed to ensure that the facility has the smallest possible footprint.”

The university is located in Najran, a city in the south of Saudi Arabia, and will have two campuses with a total of 45,000 students.

It was founded in 2006 and is the country’s largest university covering an area of 18 million square metres.

The university will also house a medical city, a research centre, sports and entertainment arenas and housing accommodation for faculty, staff and students.

Substations are key installations in the power grid that facilitate the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity.

They include equipment that protects and controls the flow of electrical power. ABB is the world’s leading supplier of air- and gas-insulated substations covering a range of voltage levels up to 1,100 kV.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.

The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 124,000 people.